Effective Client Engagement and Negotiation in Challenging Situations

Dr. Lauren Szyper

Training Description

Effectively engaging with clients can be challenging, especially when services are mandated or when the client is under a heightened amount of stress and may have a mistrust of the social services system.  The intention of this training is to understand potential obstacles to effective client engagement and improve your ability to confidently work with clients who may be hesitant around receiving services.      

Learning Objectives

• Develop a clear understanding of effective versus ineffective engagement 
• Identify at least 3 barriers to effective engagement and determine appropriate responsesIdentify warning signs when collaborative negotiation is at risk of becoming a power struggle
• Identify at least 2 ways to improve client follow through 

Agenda

8:45      Sign In  

9:00-9:45 

• Overview of the morning  

• Introductions and discussion of what participants hope to get out of the training and methods they are currently using to engage challenging clients 

• Defining engagement 

o What does effective engagement look like for you? 

o What does ineffective engagement look like?

9:45-11:00 

• Collaborative negotiation versus power struggles 

• Identifying and better understanding potential barriers  

• Finding common ground with the client 

• Questions on what has been discussed so far

11:00-11:15 Break (CEUs will not be issued for this time)

11:15-12:45 

• Personalizing our clients’ actions 

• Having a different perspective on the client’s actions o Contributing factors to a client’s lack of follow through  

• Becoming present to what drew you to this type of work 

• Importance of self-care

12:45-1:00 

• Opportunities for questions, assuring training objectives were met 

• Closing: Identifying something that really impacted you and how it will influence your future work with your clients 

• Complete evaluations

This course meets the qualifications for (3.75) BBS CEUs for LCSWs and MFTs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences & is provided by Fred Finch Youth Center, CAMFT Provider #045295.